Trifolium plant named ‘TFLRS03-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Trifolium  cultivar named ‘TFLRS03-0’ is disclosed, characterized by unique green foliage with dark red variegation. Leaflets typically occur in quantites of 4 over more than 50% of plant. Plants are compact. The new variety is a  Trifolium,  typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Trifolium repens.

Variety denomination: ‘TFLRS03-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The objectives of the planned breeding program were to develop new Trifolium varieties with interesting foliage for ornamental purposes. The breeding program was developed under the direction of the co-inventors, Takayuki Kobayashi and Kazunori Sato, in Japan. The new variety originated from a cross pollination of an unpatented, unnamed, proprietary variety of Trifolium repens seed parent and the pollen parent, a different unpatented, unnamed, proprietary variety of Trifolium repens. The crossing was made during 2007.

The new variety was selected by the inventors, Takayuki Kobayashi and Kazunori Sato, in September 2011 in a group of seedlings resulting from the crossing. The new cultivar was selected in a non-commercial greenhouse in Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TFLRS03-0’ was first performed at a non-commercial greenhouse in Japan by vegetative cuttings in March 2012. More than 5 generations have been reproduced by vegetative cuttings. Subsequently, propagation has also been performed by tissue culture. Both methods have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TFLRS03-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘TFLRS03-0’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TFLRS03-0’ as a new and distinct Trifolium cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique green foliage with dark red variegation.     -   2. Typically 4 leaflets per leaf on more than 50% of leaves per         plant.     -   3. Leaf size is little smaller than typical Trifolium.     -   4. Red variegation typically darker during Winter months.     -   5. Plant size is compact.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TFLRS03-0’ are similar to the proprietary Trifolium repens seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety however differs in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety produces foliage colored Green, with a darker         green leaflet center, and a Greyed-Purple blotch. The seed         parent variety produces green foliage with a smaller red-purple         blotch, without the darker green leaflet center.     -   2. Leaflet quantity per leaf is different     -   3. Stronger growth rate.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TFLRS03-0’ are similar to the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety however differs in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety produces foliage colored Green, with a darker         green leaflet center, and a Greyed-Purple blotch. The pollen         parent variety produces lighter greyed-green foliage with a         red-purple blotch.     -   2. Leaflet quantity per leaf is different     -   3. More vigorous growth.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘TFLRS03-0’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Trifolium ‘Just Wish Happy Life’. Plants of ‘Just Wish Happy Life’ are similar to plants of ‘TFLRS03-0’ in most horticultural characteristics. However ‘TFLRS03-0’ differs from ‘Just Wish Happy Life’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Faster growth rate.     -   2. Leaflet is smaller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a close-up of foliage of the new variety.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘TFLRS03-0’ grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘TFLRS03-0’ plants grown in a climate controlled greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. at night to 25° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Plants were grown in 50% shade. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Trifolium repens ‘TFLRS03-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Root description: Fine, non-fleshy roots. Roots approximately 0.3 cm     thick, colored near RHS White 155A.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Herbaceous, upright perennial with basally emerging     foliage. Foliage emerges from a system of above ground rhizotamous     stems. -   Plant shape: Upright, petioles slightly arching out and undulating. -   Height: Approximately 14 cm to top of foliar plane. -   Plant spread: Approximately 32 cm in a 6 inch pot. -   Pot size of plant described: 5 inch. -   Growth rate: Rapid and vigorous. -   Branching characteristics: No true branching. Leaves emerge direct     from above ground rhizotamous stems. -   Rhizotamous stems: Approximately 5 to 9 main stems on a plant of 6     months.     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Length.—Variable, average range 8 cm to 30 cm. Stems will             circle the edge of the pot.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Shiny. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 6 months.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Number of leaves per plant.—Approximately 100 to 150             compound leaves. Arrangement: Compound leaf made up of 3 to             5 leaflets. Leaflets rotate, if 3 to 5 occurring. Opposite             arrangement when 4 leaflets. 4 leaflet arrangement is most             common.         -   Compound leaf.—Average diameter: 3.0 cm. Average depth: 0.7             cm.         -   Leaflets.—Average Length: 1.5 cm, including leaflet petiole.             Average Width: 1.4 cm. Shape of blade: Orbicular. Aspect:             Undulating. Upward fold from mid-vein. Apex: Retuse. Base:             Rounded. Margin: Very fine serration. Attached: Stalked.             Appearance: Matte, both upper and lower surfaces. Texture of             top surface: Smooth. Texture of bottom surface: Smooth.             Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138B.             Blotching along mid vein near Greyed-Purple 187B. Base of             foliage darker green, forming a center ring coloration near             Green 138A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B.             Moderate blotching along mid vein near Greyed-Purple 187B.             Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138C. Heavy             blotching along mid vein near Greyed-Purple 187B. Base of             foliage darker green, forming a center ring coloration near             Green 138A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B.             Moderate blotching along mid vein near Greyed-Purple 187B.         -   Leaflet petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.15 cm. Width:             Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near Green 138B. Texture:             Smooth.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation coloration upper side: Mid             vein Green 143C. Upper veins Green 138C. Venation coloration             under side: Mid vein Green 143C. Upper veins Green 138C.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length: Approximate range from 7.5 cm to             18 cm. Width: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near Green 143C.             Texture: Smooth. Appearance: Shiny. Strength: Highly             flexible, moderately strong.

INFLORESCENCE

Flowering has not been observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the     normal diseases and pests of Trifolium observed to date. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar is a typical     Trifolium, cold tolerant to approximately 5° to 7° C. and does not     tolerate drought. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Trifolium plant named ‘TFLRS03-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 